Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 December 2014

Tuesday, 9 December 2014

Questions (133)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

133. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that community employment participants who commenced prior to 16 January 2012 and have had continuous service may retain their primary social welfare payment alongside the CE personal rate allowance until they finish their time on community employment; the number of participants that will be effected by this change; and the steps that have been taken to inform those participants. [46959/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

I can confirm that community employment (CE) participants who commenced prior to 16 January 2012, who are in receipt of one of the specified concurrent payments, and who have had continuous service on CE since that date, may retain their primary social welfare payment alongside the CE personal rate allowance until they finish their time on CE.

The number of participants affected by this is 778. All CE schemes with eligible participants were made aware on Monday 1st December and the participants were informed via their CE Sponsors. Internally, the Department updated its divisional CE staff and the relevant scheme areas in advance of this.

The specified payments are as follows:

- One Parent Family Payment

- Deserted Wife’s Benefit

- Widow(er)s Pension (Contributory and Non-Contributory)

- Illness Benefit

- Disability Allowance

- Invalidity Pension

- Blind Pension.